My name is Jeff Wood and I serve as the Commander of the Parole & Probation Division. The Parole and Probation Division has embraced Evidence Based Practices (EBP) and Community Policing as guiding philosophies to deliver supervision service to our offender population. Key EBP components of this Division are the use of Effective Practices in Community Supervision (EPICS), in-house pre-treatment programming, risk-need-responsivity and cognitive behavioral interventions, assessments, change contracts, motivational interviewing, and utilizing sanctions and services that reduce risk and promote offender change.

As of January 2015, there are 3,634 offenders under supervision in Marion County. Of those, 1,330 are on limited supervision through the Limited Supervision Unit. Our current average caseload size for our 28 case-carrying POs is 58:1.

Parole and Probation Deputies provide the highest level of supervision to offenders who present the greatest risk to the community. A variety of statutory, policy and contractual mandates are satisfied such as: sex offender notification, management of offenders sentenced to one year or less in local jails, transitional pre-release assessment and planning, hearings, and pre-sentence investigations. There are also a number of community partnerships such as our Transitional Housing and “One-Stop” Program, Victims Services, Community Restoration, Street Crimes Unit, Drug Court, and Mental Health Court. Although we are quite proud of our community partnerships, we are constantly seeking to expand our effort in this area.

Our field supervision caseload is divided and organized into geographic regions within the county, facilitating community partnerships, familiarity with the community, and effective community policing. There are specialized caseloads for sex offenders, gang offenders and domestic violence cases.

Our Vision is to implement programs and resources that reduce recidivism through systemic integration of evidence-based principles in collaboration with the community and justice partners. We have adopted a division motto, that sums up our approach:

Hope to change. Courage to make it happen. Determination to follow through.

As we are constantly striving to be the best Parole & Probation operation around, please feel free to contact me with any feedback.